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    What do you think of my build/price?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by jo346820, Jul 17, 2009.

  1. jo346820

    jo346820 Notebook Consultant

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    Hey all,

    I'm within either hours or a week of making the purchase. I was settled on a Studio 15 but just have fears about it being unsatisfactory, so I've decided to drop a bit extra now to get a machine I consider superior. Here's what I've got priced out (please bear in mind my budget was $1000):

    P8600 processor
    3-year warranty limited hardware, in home service after remote diagnose
    1366x768 screen
    4gb DDR3 ram
    500gb 7200 rpm HDD
    Radeon 4670 1gb HDD
    Intel 5300 wireless
    6-cell battery
    Price: $1208 (not including taxes)


    It's definitely higher tha I wanted to spend, but it seems like alot of laptop for the money...especially with the long warranty.

    Joe
     
    jo346820, Jul 17, 2009
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  2. LaxGoalie34

    LaxGoalie34 Notebook Enthusiast

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    looks good, you've got all the parts of worth, all but the RGBLED screen of course, but with your budget, thats a bit out of the picture.
     
    LaxGoalie34, Jul 17, 2009
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  3. paper_wastage

    paper_wastage Beat this 7x7x7 Cube

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    do you have access to Dell EPP? (college or company)

    do you need complete care?

    thinking about Dell Outlet?
     
    paper_wastage, Jul 17, 2009
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  4. jo346820

    jo346820 Notebook Consultant

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    I have access to Dell EPP (that was with the discount)

    I do not need complete care

    I have thought about and removed Dell Outlet from consideration, at least on the XPS 16, as the price doesn't seem worth it unless you have a large coupon.

    I just checked it out again and I'm seeing some refurbished models with similar specs to mine for about $200-250 less. For the extra $200-250, I'd get the upgraded video card, hard drive (7200 rpm 500gb vs. 5400 rpm), and 3 year warranty. And of course it being new.

    Kinda a tough call honestly, as the savings is not insubstantial but it's nice to have the upgraded warranty and video card....
     
    jo346820, Jul 17, 2009
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  5. jo346820

    jo346820 Notebook Consultant

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    by the way, are there any EPP programs or similar for the outlet?

    Also, doesn't the RGBLED screen use more power? That's one thing that has turned me off about it...
     
    jo346820, Jul 17, 2009
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  6. jo346820

    jo346820 Notebook Consultant

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    One advantage to the outlet that I never thought about....no real wait time to get your laptop :)
     
    jo346820, Jul 17, 2009
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  7. mhatrey

    mhatrey Notebook Geek

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    This is just me.. but I think 2 years warranty can save you some money.

    Switching to 320GB will save another 35 0r 50 bucks.. and 5100 WLAN will get a straigh $45 reduction...

    Anyways your system is quite properly setup-ed.. (off course you know your needs) I just thought of these since you were tight on budget.

    A good negotiation with dell rep can get you more.. + free shipping..

    All the best
     
    mhatrey, Jul 17, 2009
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  8. HCW

    HCW Notebook Deity

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    free shipping is Useless if you are located in the USA it will not get you your laptop any faster
     
    HCW, Jul 17, 2009
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  9. mhatrey

    mhatrey Notebook Geek

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    I know.. but atleast it saves $30
     
    mhatrey, Jul 17, 2009
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  10. jo346820

    jo346820 Notebook Consultant

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    Howdy....good stuff there, thank you. The build I was working off of to get that price already had 3-years built in (and you know dell doesn't let you down-spec their pre-builts much). Same with the 5100. I can down-spec to ta 320 gb though. I thought the speed of a 500gb 7200rpm might be worth it, but I really don't know.

    I also thought the 5300 wireless might be best for living a townhome with 4 levels on which we use the laptop and the router in the basement; thought the antennaes might give a consistently better signal.

    Joe
     
    jo346820, Jul 17, 2009
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  11. vin200

    vin200 Notebook Consultant

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    why does everyone keep talking about free shipping. when i look at dells website, every computer has a free shipping label on it. why does this need to be haggled?
     
    vin200, Jul 17, 2009
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  12. mhatrey

    mhatrey Notebook Geek

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    Actually when a EPP member configures his/her system in the cart, at the checkout as soon as he enters the address, a shipping charge of $29.99 is added.. If he dont make the deal through a rep (just buys online with the offer givesn at site) then he pays this $30 bucks....

    Actually this free shipping is available to all..but the dell doesnt give it to EPP members unless we brag about it..Some of them even get NBD..anyways its useless. as many of the people say.
     
    mhatrey, Jul 17, 2009
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  13. vin200

    vin200 Notebook Consultant

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    ^ ahh i see.
     
    vin200, Jul 17, 2009
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  14. tehJESSEH

    tehJESSEH Notebook Enthusiast

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    How did you get that price? Am I missing something?

    Here's what's I configured:
    Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9600 (6MB cache/2.80GHz/1066Mhz FSB)
    3 Year Ltd Warranty w/3 Year Return To Depot Service,Lojack+CompleteCare
    Edge-to-Edge FullHD Widescreen 16.0 inch RGBLED LCD (1920x1080) W/2.0 MP
    4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)
    320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
    BluRay Disc Combo (DVD/CD read/write + BD read) Slot Load Drive
    Intel® 5100 WLAN Wireless-N (1x2) Half Mini Card
    Soundblaster X-Fi Hi Def Audio - Software Enabled
    Additional 9-Cell Battery
    ATI Mobility RADEON™ HD 4670 – 1GB

    It works out to be $2534 Canadian... I configured the same as yours, and it worked out to be almost $1800 Canadian... where is the bulk of the discount of this config coming from? EPP? Does Canada have this service, and how do I qualify?
     
    tehJESSEH, Jul 17, 2009
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  15. xnightxwingx

    xnightxwingx Notebook Consultant

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    The studio 15 has the 4670? I only see 4570 on the site.
     
    xnightxwingx, Jul 17, 2009
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  16. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    That's the XPS16. And Canada sucks for deals since they don't have the population to get the cheaper price.
     
    sgogeta4, Jul 17, 2009
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  17. tehJESSEH

    tehJESSEH Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ahh, I see! I'm sorry, I misread his original post, thinking the "better machine" he settled on was the next step up... an SXPS. Completely my bad. I'm just in a Studio 15 vs. SXPS 16 dilemma right now :)
     
    tehJESSEH, Jul 18, 2009
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